Popular sweetener linked to risk of stroke and heart attack
A popular sugar substitute has been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in adults at risk.A new study shows that erythritol, a popular zero-calorie sweetener, is associated with an increased risk of heart attack. Researchers also found that erythritol exposure makes platelets more involved in the clotting process, leading to clotting.
As part of the study, researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio evaluated data from more than 4,000 Americans and Europeans who were examined cardiovascular system. It turned out that people with the highest concentrations of artificial sweetener in their blood were at increased risk of heart attack or stroke over the next three years. Notably, most of the participants already had some form of cardiovascular disease or had risk factors for future heart problems due to diabetes or high blood pressure.
The sweet substance contains no calories, does not raise blood sugar levels and has been used as a sugar substitute since the 1990s. It is found in nature. In small amounts, erythritol can be found in some plants, grapes, mushrooms. It is also produced by the human body, but in very small amounts.
People who believe that they lead a healthy lifestyle by consuming sugar substitutes add erythritol to their food. But even one "pill" of the sweetener is a huge amount of a potentially dangerous substance.
Source: The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk | Nature Medicine